EP1362241B1 - Fluid velocity transducer - Google Patents

Fluid velocity transducer Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1362241B1
EP1362241B1 EP01905906A EP01905906A EP1362241B1 EP 1362241 B1 EP1362241 B1 EP 1362241B1 EP 01905906 A EP01905906 A EP 01905906A EP 01905906 A EP01905906 A EP 01905906A EP 1362241 B1 EP1362241 B1 EP 1362241B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hall effect
fluid
transducer
diaphragms
effect unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP01905906A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1362241A1 (en
Inventor
Wilfred Ignatius Bishop
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1362241A1 publication Critical patent/EP1362241A1/en
Priority to HK04103279A priority Critical patent/HK1060397A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1362241B1 publication Critical patent/EP1362241B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01P—MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT
    • G01P5/00—Measuring speed of fluids, e.g. of air stream; Measuring speed of bodies relative to fluids, e.g. of ship, of aircraft
    • G01P5/14—Measuring speed of fluids, e.g. of air stream; Measuring speed of bodies relative to fluids, e.g. of ship, of aircraft by measuring differences of pressure in the fluid
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01P—MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT
    • G01P5/00—Measuring speed of fluids, e.g. of air stream; Measuring speed of bodies relative to fluids, e.g. of ship, of aircraft
    • G01P5/02—Measuring speed of fluids, e.g. of air stream; Measuring speed of bodies relative to fluids, e.g. of ship, of aircraft by measuring forces exerted by the fluid on solid bodies, e.g. anemometer

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a velocity measuring device and is concerned with a transducer for measuring the relative velocity of movement of a fluid medium, for example water or air, either when the transducer is made to move through the fluid medium or the fluid medium moves towards the stationary transducer.
  • a fluid medium for example water or air
  • US-A-4627292 discloses an AC transducer suitable fo measuring fluid pressures employing a toroidal transformer and a single associated magnet and diaphragm.
  • a fluid velocity transducer comprising a substantially tubular body having a fluid-tight outlet for signal wires, the body having located therein a Hall effect unit, and a pair of oppositely disposed diaphragms positioned respectively at each end portion of the tubular body, each diaphragm having a magnet fixed to its interior surface so that the two magnetic fields oppose each other, with the magnets being placed relative to the Hall effect unit such as to produce zero output voltage when no external forces are applied, the arrangement being such that in use either of the diaphragms can receive an applied force due to movement of a fluid towards one or the other of the diaphragms respectively and can convert this force into a displacement relative to the Hall effect unit thereby increasing or decreasing the magnetic field strength applied to the Hall effect unit so as to produce a signal output which can be processed to provide an indication of the speed of movement of the fluid in one or an opposite direction.
  • the transducer of the invention measures velocity by making use of a very small displacement produced by the force of the medium in which it moves or the force of the medium that moves on to it.
  • the transducer responds to the differential forces applied to its surfaces and produces a signal output only when the two forces applied are unequal.
  • the output signal is proportional to the velocity in the direction of motion and very little or no output is produced in other directions, excerpt in the reverse direction if the transducer or medium is revered.
  • the tubular body of the transducer may be made from any material suitable for the environment in which it is to be used.
  • a plastics material such as, for example an ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) copolymer, is suitable for fabrication of the tubular body and also of the diaphragms.
  • the Hall effect unit is advantageously mounted on a printed circuit board positioned in a central region of the tubular body.
  • the diaphragms can be fixedly attached to the respective ends of the tubular body, for example by chemical bonding or thermal welding, so as to provide a fluid-tight seal for each end of the tubular body.
  • the magnets attached to each diaphragm respectively are preferably of different sizes.
  • the velocity transducer of the invention can be used to measure the speed of movement of a vessel, for example a ship or boat, through water, for which purpose it will be fixed to the hull of the vessel below the waterline. Other uses may be to measure the speed of water flow in a river or the flow rate of a liquid or gas through a pipeline. It may also be used to measure wind speed on land or the sea.
  • the signal output from the Hall effect unit may be coupled to an interface unit to process the varying direct current signal from the transducer for digital display.
  • a thermistor may be attached to the printed circuit board in addition to the Hall effect unit to enable the ambient temperature of the liquid or gas to be measured.
  • a liquid speed transducer has a body comprising a length of ABS plastics tubing 1.
  • a watertight outlet 4 advantageously positioned in alignment with a central region of the tubular body 1, provides a path for electrical wires (not shown) for an output signal.
  • a linear Hall effect unit 7 is mounted in the central region of the tubular body 1 on a printed circuit board 8.
  • a first diaphragm 3 and a second diaphragm 6 can transmit small movements from the outside and at the same time serve to seal the unit.
  • the diaphragms both made of ABS plastics material, are fixedly positioned in recessed rims formed respectively at each end of the tubular body 1.
  • the diaphragms have substantially equal surface areas.
  • a small magnet 5 is mounted on the central area of diaphragm 6 for which a suitable recess is provided.
  • a larger magnet 2 is mounted on diaphragm 3 and fixed in a recess provided therefor.
  • a magnetic field from magnet 5 acting on the Hall effect unit 7 causes it to produce a differential output voltage.
  • a magnetic field from magnet 2 acting on the Hall effect unit on the reverse side reduces the output voltage.
  • the two magnets are placed relative to the Hall effect unit so that the output is zero with no external forces applied.
  • the magnetic fields are in opposition to each other.
  • An external force acting on diaphragm 6 increases the magnetic field strength on the Hall effect unit 7 by reducing the gap between magnet 5 and unit 7 thus producing a positive output voltage proportional to the displacement of diaphragm 6 as a result of the applied force. Conversely external force acting on the diaphragm 3 reduces the output voltage.
  • the transducer will detect the velocity of liquid flowing on to diaphragm 6 because the displacement of the diaphragm produces a proportional output voltage as a result of the force of the liquid acting on the diaphragm.
  • the unit will detect its own velocity only if it is moved through liquid in a direction so that the applied force acts preferably on diaphragm 6. Force acting on diaphragm 3 at the same time will have a negative effect and hence reduce the output, enabling the transducer to compensate for movement in other directions.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)
  • Transmission And Conversion Of Sensor Element Output (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Velocity Or Position Using Acoustic Or Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
  • Measuring Pulse, Heart Rate, Blood Pressure Or Blood Flow (AREA)

Abstract

A transducer for measuring the relative velocity of movement of a body in a liquid or gaseous medium employs no reciprocating parts and functions by sensing the force applied to a diaphragm (6) die to its movement through the medium or the movement of the medium towards the diaphragm. The speed transducer makes use of a Hall effect solid state device (7) that produces an output when a magnetic field is applied to either of its surfaces. The level of the output voltage is proportional to the velocity of movement in the positive direction, i.e. when the force acts on diaphragm (6) in (FIG. 1). Since the transducer takes into account differential forces, an unwanted common force acting on both diaphragms simultaneously will have no effect on the measured speed. The tubular body (1) in which the Hall effect device is located may be made from any non-magnetic material suitable for the environment in which the transducer will be used.

Description

  • This invention relates to a velocity measuring device and is concerned with a transducer for measuring the relative velocity of movement of a fluid medium, for example water or air, either when the transducer is made to move through the fluid medium or the fluid medium moves towards the stationary transducer.
  • Many velocity transducers are in common use but most require reciprocating parts that wear or become stuck for one reason or another. For example, when used in a marine environment, the paddle wheel type must be serviced regularly because it is affected by weeds, barnacles and mud. For air or gas velocity measurement, the bearings of the rotating part must be of sufficient high quality to provide a reasonably long life and hence long-term reliability.
  • It is an object of this invention to provide a velocity transducer that does not rely on reciprocating parts or bearings and will not require regular servicing even in a marine environment.
  • US-A-4627292 discloses an AC transducer suitable fo measuring fluid pressures employing a toroidal transformer and a single associated magnet and diaphragm.
  • According to the present invention, there is provided a fluid velocity transducer comprising a substantially tubular body having a fluid-tight outlet for signal wires, the body having located therein a Hall effect unit, and a pair of oppositely disposed diaphragms positioned respectively at each end portion of the tubular body, each diaphragm having a magnet fixed to its interior surface so that the two magnetic fields oppose each other, with the magnets being placed relative to the Hall effect unit such as to produce zero output voltage when no external forces are applied, the arrangement being such that in use either of the diaphragms can receive an applied force due to movement of a fluid towards one or the other of the diaphragms respectively and can convert this force into a displacement relative to the Hall effect unit thereby increasing or decreasing the magnetic field strength applied to the Hall effect unit so as to produce a signal output which can be processed to provide an indication of the speed of movement of the fluid in one or an opposite direction.
  • The transducer of the invention measures velocity by making use of a very small displacement produced by the force of the medium in which it moves or the force of the medium that moves on to it. The transducer responds to the differential forces applied to its surfaces and produces a signal output only when the two forces applied are unequal. The output signal is proportional to the velocity in the direction of motion and very little or no output is produced in other directions, excerpt in the reverse direction if the transducer or medium is revered.
  • The tubular body of the transducer may be made from any material suitable for the environment in which it is to be used. For a marine application, a plastics material such as, for example an ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) copolymer, is suitable for fabrication of the tubular body and also of the diaphragms. The Hall effect unit is advantageously mounted on a printed circuit board positioned in a central region of the tubular body. The diaphragms can be fixedly attached to the respective ends of the tubular body, for example by chemical bonding or thermal welding, so as to provide a fluid-tight seal for each end of the tubular body. The magnets attached to each diaphragm respectively are preferably of different sizes.
  • The velocity transducer of the invention can be used to measure the speed of movement of a vessel, for example a ship or boat, through water, for which purpose it will be fixed to the hull of the vessel below the waterline. Other uses may be to measure the speed of water flow in a river or the flow rate of a liquid or gas through a pipeline. It may also be used to measure wind speed on land or the sea.
  • The signal output from the Hall effect unit may be coupled to an interface unit to process the varying direct current signal from the transducer for digital display.
  • If desired, a thermistor may be attached to the printed circuit board in addition to the Hall effect unit to enable the ambient temperature of the liquid or gas to be measured.
  • For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:
    • FIGURE 1 is an enlarged diagrammatic longitudinal axial cross-section of a velocity transducer; and
    • FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the velocity transducer of Figure 1.
  • Referring to the drawings, a liquid speed transducer has a body comprising a length of ABS plastics tubing 1. A watertight outlet 4, advantageously positioned in alignment with a central region of the tubular body 1, provides a path for electrical wires (not shown) for an output signal.
  • A linear Hall effect unit 7 is mounted in the central region of the tubular body 1 on a printed circuit board 8.
  • A first diaphragm 3 and a second diaphragm 6 can transmit small movements from the outside and at the same time serve to seal the unit. The diaphragms, both made of ABS plastics material, are fixedly positioned in recessed rims formed respectively at each end of the tubular body 1. The diaphragms have substantially equal surface areas.
  • A small magnet 5 is mounted on the central area of diaphragm 6 for which a suitable recess is provided. Likewise a larger magnet 2 is mounted on diaphragm 3 and fixed in a recess provided therefor.
  • A magnetic field from magnet 5 acting on the Hall effect unit 7 causes it to produce a differential output voltage. A magnetic field from magnet 2 acting on the Hall effect unit on the reverse side reduces the output voltage. The two magnets are placed relative to the Hall effect unit so that the output is zero with no external forces applied. The magnetic fields are in opposition to each other.
  • An external force acting on diaphragm 6 increases the magnetic field strength on the Hall effect unit 7 by reducing the gap between magnet 5 and unit 7 thus producing a positive output voltage proportional to the displacement of diaphragm 6 as a result of the applied force. Conversely external force acting on the diaphragm 3 reduces the output voltage.
  • The transducer will detect the velocity of liquid flowing on to diaphragm 6 because the displacement of the diaphragm produces a proportional output voltage as a result of the force of the liquid acting on the diaphragm. The unit will detect its own velocity only if it is moved through liquid in a direction so that the applied force acts preferably on diaphragm 6. Force acting on diaphragm 3 at the same time will have a negative effect and hence reduce the output, enabling the transducer to compensate for movement in other directions.

Claims (5)

  1. A fluid velocity transducer comprising a substantially tubular body (1) having a fluid-tight outlet (4) for signal wires, the body having located therein a Hall effect unit (7), and a pair of oppositely disposed diaphragms (3,6) positioned respectively at each end portion of the tubular body (1), each diaphragm having a magnet (2,5) fixed to its interior surface so that the two magnetic fields oppose each other, with the magnets being placed relative to the Hall effect unit such as to produce zero output voltage when no external forces are applied, the arrangement being such that in use either of the diaphragms can receive an applied force due to movement of a fluid towards one or the other of the diaphragms respectively and can convert this force into a displacement relative to the Hall effect unit thereby increasing or decreasing the magnetic field strength applied to the Hall effect unit (7) so as to produce a signal output which can be processed to provide an indication of the speed of movement of the fluid in one or an opposite direction.
  2. A fluid velocity transducer as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the fluid-tight outlet (4) for signal wires is positioned in alignment with a central region of the tubular body (1).
  3. A fluid velocity transducer as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the Hall effect unit (7) is mounted on a printed circuit board (8) in a central region of the tubular body (1).
  4. A fluid velocity transducer as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the diaphragms (3,6) are fitted with magnets (2,5) of different sizes.
  5. A fluid velocity transducer as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the two diaphragms (3,6) have substantially equal areas.
EP01905906A 2001-02-15 2001-02-15 Fluid velocity transducer Expired - Lifetime EP1362241B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
HK04103279A HK1060397A1 (en) 2001-02-15 2004-05-11 Fluid velocity transducer

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/GB2001/000660 WO2002065140A1 (en) 2001-02-15 2001-02-15 Fluid velocity transducer

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1362241A1 EP1362241A1 (en) 2003-11-19
EP1362241B1 true EP1362241B1 (en) 2008-03-12

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ID=9906599

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01905906A Expired - Lifetime EP1362241B1 (en) 2001-02-15 2001-02-15 Fluid velocity transducer

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US6813963B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1362241B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE389184T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2001233875B2 (en)
DE (1) DE60133223T2 (en)
HK (1) HK1060397A1 (en)
NO (1) NO20024450L (en)
WO (1) WO2002065140A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2008020395A (en) * 2006-07-14 2008-01-31 Toyo Denso Co Ltd Multifunctional detection device for engine
CN109405929A (en) * 2018-12-04 2019-03-01 王永忠 Wide-range float type flow sensor

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4627292A (en) * 1984-07-03 1986-12-09 Randek Inc. AC transducers, methods and systems

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3005233A1 (en) * 1980-02-13 1981-08-20 Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft Ag Hamburg Und Kiel, 2300 Kiel Ship-speed measurement system for marine log - uses static and dynamic pressure difference across piston held by strings whose resonant frequency is checked
JPS63210777A (en) * 1987-02-27 1988-09-01 Sanshin Ind Co Ltd Speedometer for ship
GB2247316A (en) * 1990-07-21 1992-02-26 Bailey & Mackey Limited Pressure sensor utilising Hall-effect device
US5133323A (en) * 1991-06-25 1992-07-28 Siemens Automotive L.P. Intake manifold pressure compensation for the closed-loop pressure regulation of a fuel pump
US6085599A (en) * 1995-04-26 2000-07-11 Feller; Murray F. Magnetic flow sensor

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4627292A (en) * 1984-07-03 1986-12-09 Randek Inc. AC transducers, methods and systems

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO20024450L (en) 2002-12-13
US20040050174A1 (en) 2004-03-18
EP1362241A1 (en) 2003-11-19
ATE389184T1 (en) 2008-03-15
AU2001233875B2 (en) 2006-04-27
NO20024450D0 (en) 2002-09-18
WO2002065140A1 (en) 2002-08-22
DE60133223D1 (en) 2008-04-24
HK1060397A1 (en) 2004-08-06
DE60133223T2 (en) 2009-04-30
US6813963B2 (en) 2004-11-09

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